by Emma
14. December 2008 23:01
Bad news for the online poker community in Norway
A Norwegian bill attempting to block payments to online gambling sites, including online poker, modeled after the United States' controversial Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, was passed into law earlier this week.
The passage occurred despite calls from that country's banking officials, as in the US, that the law will be unenforceable.
Norway is not an official member of the European Union, though Norway is a part of the unified European Economic Area, leaving it subject to some EU trade policies.
The EU has criticized Norway's stance, suggesting that the move is designed to protect Norway's state-run gambling operation, Norske Tipping.